Jimmy Cliff, born James Chambers on 30 July 1944, has died at the age of 81. His wife, Latifa Chambers, announced that he passed away on 24 November 2025 after suffering a seizure and subsequent pneumonia. The news closes the final chapter of a life that helped carry Jamaican music from Kingston’s streets to global stages and cemented reggae as a world language.
Cliff grew up in Saint James Parish and later moved to Kingston as a teenager, drawn to the energy of the city’s sound systems and the promise of music. He adopted his stage name early and made his first mark with “Hurricane Hattie,” a local hit that caught the attention of industry figures at a time when ska and rocksteady were taking shape. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, he had become one of the first Jamaican artists to reach international audiences, thanks to songs such as “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” and “Vietnam.” His work resonated abroad not only for its rhythm, but for its clear moral centre and political consciousness.
His role as Ivan Martin in the 1972 film The Harder They Come turned him into a cultural symbol. The film captured the grit and contradictions of Jamaican life, and its soundtrack introduced millions to a sound that would define a generation. Cliff’s performances on the album, including “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “Many Rivers to Cross,” became anthems of resilience that carried reggae from a regional sound to a global movement.
Across more than six decades, Cliff recorded over 30 albums and collaborated widely, crossing genres from reggae and ska to rock, punk and pop. His version of “I Can See Clearly Now,” used in Cool Runnings, introduced yet another generation to his voice. He became one of the few artists honoured with Jamaica’s Order of Merit and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Beyond awards, his influence rests in the way his music merged optimism with struggle, and personal reflection with social commentary.
Those who knew him often spoke of his connection to his roots. Even as his career took him across continents, Cliff returned repeatedly to the stories, sounds and values that shaped him. His wife, in her statement announcing his death, thanked fans for a lifetime of support, saying their love was a constant source of strength for him.
Jimmy Cliff’s death marks the passing of a pioneer who changed how the world heard Jamaica. His songs endure in the global canon, and his work continues to inspire artists across generations and across continents, including here in Africa where his messages of identity, dignity and hope have long found a home. His life proved that music could cross borders, challenge assumptions and affirm the humanity of people whose stories had been pushed to the margins. His legacy now lives in the voices he influenced and the spirit he helped shape. May he rest in peace.
